Southeast Asia routes

Routes of 2 to 4 months, one country per month, with the best time to set off worked out from each country's weather.

Laos and Cambodia in 2 months Laos → Cambodia Slow river towns, the Mekong and the temples of Angkor: two quiet countries that are easy to join overland. Best month to set off: January

Vietnam and Cambodia in 2 months Vietnam → Cambodia Vietnam from north to south, then across the border to Phnom Penh and Angkor. Best month to set off: February

Myanmar and Thailand in 2 months Burma → Thailand Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon, then Thailand's north and its islands. Best month to set off: January

Indonesia and Malaysia in 2 months Indonesia → Malaysia Volcanoes, Bali and the Gili islands, then Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Borneo. Best month to set off: May

Malaysia and Thailand in 2 months Malaysia → Thailand Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands and Penang, then overland into Thailand for its islands and Bangkok. Best month to set off: January

Sri Lanka and Nepal in 2 months Sri Lanka → Nepal Tea country and beaches in Sri Lanka, then the Himalaya from Kathmandu and Pokhara. Best month to set off: January

Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in 3 months Thailand → Laos → Vietnam Three countries in a row, crossing by land from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang and on to Hanoi. Best month to set off: January

Classic Southeast Asia in 4 months Thailand → Laos → Vietnam → Cambodia The loop most first-timers dream of: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Best month to set off: October